Santorini with Kids: A Complete Family Guide

Santorini with kids is not impossible, but it does require some thought. Instead of going for clifftop hotels, for example, you should opt for beach towns. Having a stroller might be difficult, and you would need to plan around the crowds and heat.

In this guide, we will discuss the above tips in more detail and offer many more. We will also suggest things to do in Santorini with kids, where to stay, how to move around the island, and compare Santorini with Mykonos. We also talk about how to combine your holidays in Santorini with a more relaxed stay in a calm island like Naxos.

Is Santorini Worth It With Kids?

Yes, Santorini with kids is worth it! Just keep in mind the terrain you will encounter and plan accordingly. Steps, cobblestones, and steep paths are not exactly stroller-friendly. Staying in a flat beach town like Perissa or Imerovigli is a great way to make your stay hassle-free. A short stay, sandy beaches and downtime when it’s hot outside is enough to make a family very happy indeed.

Best Time to Visit Santorini With Kids

May to early June or September to early October are the best times to visit Santorini with kids. It’s warm enough to go to the beach but not to the mid-summer level. Also, the crowds of people are much thinner, an important factor when trying to manage a stroller or baby buggy on narrow paths and cliff sides.

In July and August, the temperatures are at their highest, and the most popular viewpoints are at their busiest. As a result, families may need to include a day or days spent indoors or set off early in the morning to visit all of the places they would like to.

Ideal Trip Length for Families

Two to three days are ideal. This allows time to enjoy the amazing views over the caldera, visit a beach or two, and take a boat trip. Staying longer would mean too much of the same. Most families prefer to combine a few days on Santorini with a longer and more relaxing stay on another island.

Where to Stay in Santorini With Kids

Where you stay is far more important than what hotel you choose. Avoid staying in Oia or Fira. Their steep steps and alleys can be a real challenge for families with children. You would be better staying in a flatter, more family-friendly place such as one of the island’s beach towns. Logistics, like accessing a beach and returning to the hotel for dinner, for example, are much simpler.

Best Family-Friendly Areas

The three southeastern towns of Kamari, Monolithos and Perissa have flat streets that are easy to get around with a stroller or tired children. Of the three, Kamari has the most restaurants and evening activities, quiet Monolithos has a playground right on the sand, and long Perissa beach has the most space to spread out. In contrast, Oia and Fira have wonderful views but are a constant staircase and throngs of people. Therefore, while these two towns are great for a short day trip, they are not suitable as a home base.

What to Look for in a Family Hotel

A pool at the hotel is a priority, as not every day can be a beach day, especially with younger kids who need a break from the sun. Ground floor or elevator access is more important here, as so many hotels are built on slopes. A short flat walk to the nearest beach or restaurant strip can save so much stress with a stroller in tow.

Best Things to Do in Santorini With Kids

The best things to do in Santorini for kids are mostly a combination of beach time and unique activities that you can’t do anywhere else. A volcano boat tour, a sandy beach, and a few indoor stops are more than enough for most families. Sunset is a must, but don’t necessarily go to view it from Oia, where everyone else gathers too.

Family-Friendly Beaches

Monolithos Beach is great for families as it offers shallow water, soft golden sand and a playground. Kamari and Perissa are great black volcanic sand beaches with organised sunbeds and restaurants. Keep in mind, though, that the sand gets hot in midday. Bring some water shoes with you. Red Beach, although pretty in photos, has a rocky and uneven path. Better to visit it with older children.

Volcano & Hot Springs Boat Tours

A half-day boat trip to the volcanic islet of Nea Kameni allows you and your kids to walk around the rim of an active volcano. Then, you can cool off in the warm, mineral-rich waters at the base of the island. Check out the boat before you book with toddlers. Some have ladders to board. Others, though, require open water entry. These are better suited to older children.

Indoor & Rainy-Day Activities

The Lost Atlantis Experience in Megalochori is a great way to spend a few hours in the afternoon. Santo Winery and a few more wineries in Santorini offer short wine tastings that are child-friendly and have stunning views of the caldera. Also, local pottery and cooking classes are organized for families with children. These activities are great because they occupy the children during the hottest part of the day and are fun for the adults too. If a family trip to Greece is on your mind, explore our Greece vacation packages or request one built around your kids’ ages and your pace.

Sunset Spots that Actually Work With Kids

The sunset in Oia draws huge crowds and tyres children. An alternative would be to watch the sunset from Firostefani. Firostefani is only a short walk from Fira and has similar views. However, unlike Oia, Firostefani does not get the crowds, and you can come and go as you please. If you are looking for something totally different, then the beach towns of Kamari also have some wonderful views of the sunset over the water.

Santorini With Kids by Age

Santorini is not the same for every age group. If you understand that and plan accordingly, then you will save yourself a lot of frustration. Teens and toddlers like vastly different things and have different levels of tolerance for heat or walking. You should match your itinerary to your kid’s ages. Avoid going to Santorini with a generic must-see list.

Babies & Toddlers (0-3)

Strollers don’t do well on cobblestones and stairs, so a baby carrier is the best option. Try to stick to a single flat beach-based base and keep daily forays short. Toddlers quickly tire in the heat. Boat trips and long walks around the caldera are not really suitable for this age group. Instead, opt for pool time, sandy beach mornings, and an early dinner to avoid the throngs of tourists.

Young Kids (4-9)

This age group enjoys the volcano boat trip the most, with particular enthusiasm for the swim stop in the warm sulfur waters close to Nea Kameni. The playground and shallow water of Monolithos Beach provide the perfect ingredients for a day on the beach. For a break from the heat, a short indoor trip such as the Lost Atlantis Experience can be just as enjoyable as a longer caldera walk, especially if taken early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Teens (10+)

Teens can handle more of the Santorini experiences that draw adults to the island, including the steeper hikes up the caldera, the rocky path to the Red Beach, and sunsets in Oia or Fira. Older kids can even operate ATV or quad rentals, depending on age and height. It is also around this age that a day trip to another island can provide a welcome change of pace.

Getting Around Santorini with Kids

For travelling with kids to Santorini, renting a car is the easiest way to get around. Note that car seats are not included by default, so make sure to find out when you book your car. ATVs are not suitable for kids under the age of 14. The local buses run between the main towns of Santorini but only on a limited schedule. Sometimes it is worth hiring a private driver for your airport transfers as well as for your evening trips around the island. In the evenings, it can be difficult to find a taxi.

Mykonos or Santorini with Kids?

Santorini suits families with younger children best. The beaches are generally calmer and the towns feel more relaxed. Mykonos, with its livelier beach clubs and buzzier town center, will fit older kids and teenagers better.

Both islands have rough and uneven terrain, but the beach towns in Santorini are flatter and easier on toddlers.

Should You Pair Santorini with Another Island?

Santorini is a great destination to combine with a more relaxed island like Naxos for family trips to Greece. A 2-3 day stay on Santorini is enough to see all the main sights without getting tired of the demanding terrain. After that, spend more time on Naxos with wide sandy beaches, flat towns and a more relaxed pace that is suitable for children. Island-hopping in general is a great strategy because you get to experience a change of scenery.

We don’t recommend Naxos out of pure chance. Lori had a similar itinerary and loved it!

“Our experience with Greece Insiders, was terrific. We spent almost 2 weeks in Greece visiting Athens. Crete, Naxos and Santorini. They did a wonderful job selecting hotels, activities, guides ,etc. I would highly recommend”.

Practical Tips for Visiting Santorini with Kids

A few practical tips make the difference between a smooth trip and a stressful one:

• Skip the stroller. Cobblestone paths and steep stairs make pushchairs impractical in Oia, Fira, and most other towns. Bring a baby carrier instead.
• Watch the edges. Many caldera walking paths lack safety railings, so keep young kids close on cliffside routes.
• Pack water shoes. Black volcanic sand gets extremely hot by midday, especially on beaches like Kamari and Perissa.
• Bring heavy-duty sunscreen. Shade is limited on most beaches and walking paths, and the sun is strong even outside peak summer.
• Time outings around naps and heat. Plan sightseeing for morning or early evening, and treat midday as pool or rest time.
• Confirm car seat availability early. Rental companies don’t always include them by default, so ask when booking rather than assuming.

Conclusion

Santorini with kids can be wonderful when you organise your trip around your kids’ needs and pace. Stay at a flatter part of the island, like the beach towns and plan out activities for their age. Leave the stroller behind and opt for a baby carrier. Take off for a boat tour, spend a day at the sandy beach and retreat to the air-conditioned indoor spaces of cafes, restaurants and shops in the middle of the day.

If you’d rather skip the planning and let someone who knows the island handle the details, Greece Insiders builds tailor-made family trips to Santorini and beyond, matched to your kids’ ages and what actually makes sense for your pace of travel.